Bridges to the Baccalaureate at UPR-Rio Piedras

描述（由申请人提供）：波多黎各系统和里约Piedras校区的大学的四个区域机构将继续改善目前的转让方案的方式，这将增加代表性不足的少数民族谁继续在生物医学科学研究生课程的数量。四个参与的区域机构，阿雷西博，巴亚蒙，卡罗莱纳和庞塞校区不提供生物或化学学士学位。这些学校的转学生录取率很低，必须加以改善。提高区域机构科学课程的成果：真理与和解委员会项目将开展旨在提高学生科学入门课程成绩的活动。虽然这些活动将是类似的，但它们将响应具体的机构需求，并将包括由各个方案协调员规划和执行的各种活动。这些活动包括解决问题的研讨会，学生辅导和同行科学家的研讨会。关于科学教育方法的研讨会将由里约彼德拉斯的教师或受邀演讲者参加里约彼德拉斯的方案提供给区域校园的教师。为了方便他们转移到四年制课程：为24名正在上升的学生提供夏季研讨会，旨在为第二年课程做准备，教授学生基本的实验室技能，并使未来的转学生熟悉科学研究作为职业选择。挑选16名实习生作为真相与和解委员会的受训人员，将他们安排到里奥皮德拉斯研究实验室，在那里他们将参加为期两个月的夏季研究经验。这将是一个研讨会，这将为学生分析化学做好准备。在今年夏天，这些学生还将获得有关课程的咨询和帮助，以完成他们转移到里奥彼德拉斯。为了改善他们向研究职业的过渡：16名TRC学员将在大三和大四期间参加本科研究项目。在大三之间的夏天，将鼓励所有学员参加校外研究经验。将努力将受训人员安排在现有的本科研究计划中，但那些找不到职位的受训人员将获得实验室助理的资助。

DESCRIPTION (provided by the applicant): Four regional institutions of the University of Puerto Rico System and the Rio Piedras Campus of the same system will continue to improve the current transfer program in a manner which will augment the number of underrepresented minorities who continue graduate studies in the biomedical sciences. The four participating regional institutions, Arecibo, Bayamon, Carolina, and Ponce Campuses do not offer baccalaureate degrees in either Biology or Chemistry. The admission rate for transfer students from these campuses is low and must be improved. To improve outcomes in science courses at the regional institutions: The TRC project will provide activities directed at improving student performance in introductory science courses. Although these will be similar, these will respond to specific institutional needs and will include a wide variety activities planned and executed by the individual program coordinators. These activities include problem solving workshops, student mentoring, and seminars by peer scientists. Workshops on science education methodologies will be offered to faculty of the regional campuses by Rio Piedras faculty or invited speakers participating at Rio Piedras-based programs. To ease their transfer to the four-year program: Provide a summer workshop for 24 rising sophomores designed to provide preparation for second year courses, teach students basic laboratory skills, and to familiarize future transfer students with scientific research as a career option. Select 16 sophomores as TRC trainees and place them into Rio Piedras research laboratories where they will participate in a two-month summer research experience. This will be followed by a workshop which will prepare students for Analytical Chemistry. During this summer these students will also receive counseling as to courses and assistance in completing their transfer to Rio Piedras. To improve their transition to research careers: The 16 TRC trainees will participate in undergraduate research projects during their Junior and Senior years During the summers between their junior years all trainees will be encouraged to participate in extramural research experiences. Efforts will be made to place trainees in the existing undergraduate research programs, however those trainees who do not find positions will be provided with funding as laboratory assistants.